Methodology
How we rate neighborhoods
No black boxes. Here's exactly what every score means and where the data comes from.
Photo: Unsplash
The four verdicts
Our overall rating
Every report ends with one of four verdicts. It's not a score out of 100 — it's a plain-English call based on how all the data adds up. Think of it as what an honest friend who had read every data point would tell you.
This place has it together.
Strong schools, solid walkability, reasonable prices relative to what you get, low flood risk, and a community feel people actually stick around for. Not perfect — nowhere is — but the trade-offs are minor. If you find a home you like here, stop overthinking it.
Solid, with some caveats.
A decent place to land — good enough on most dimensions, but something meaningful is missing or mediocre. Maybe the commute is brutal, schools are average, or prices are a stretch. Worth living in for the right person or life stage, but not a place where everyone would thrive long-term.
Real issues worth knowing about.
There are meaningful downsides here that would affect most people's day-to-day life. That doesn't mean it's uninhabitable — plenty of people live happily in Think Twice neighborhoods — but you should go in with eyes open. Ask hard questions before committing.
Multiple serious red flags.
The data shows compounding problems — not just one bad metric, but several that would materially affect your safety, finances, or quality of life. We don't give this verdict lightly. If you're set on the area, dig deep into the specific concerns before signing anything.
Vibe scores
Eight dimensions, scored 1–10
Vibe scores aren't just pulled from a single dataset — they're AI-synthesized judgments that weigh multiple signals. A 10 means exceptional; a 5 is average for the US; a 1 means a real problem in that area.
How much of daily life — errands, coffee, restaurants — can be done on foot. Anchored to Walk Score data, adjusted for density and amenity mix.
Quality and frequency of public transportation. A 10 means you can commute anywhere without a car. A 1 means the bus runs twice a day.
Density and variety of restaurants, bars, cafes, and evening venues within a walkable or short-drive radius.
A composite of school quality, park access, low crime, quiet streets, and the presence of family-oriented amenities like playgrounds and community centers.
How well the neighborhood supports working from home: coffee shops, coworking spaces, quiet streets, good internet infrastructure, and enough nearby services to break up the day.
Estimated noise level and general pace of the neighborhood. Low-traffic streets, residential density, and distance from highways or airports all factor in.
Access to parks, trails, green corridors, and natural areas within a reasonable distance. Includes both formal parks and informal green areas.
Density of dog parks, pet-friendly businesses, walkable streets, and green space — plus a general sense of how accommodating the neighborhood is for animal owners.
Risk profile
Low · Moderate · High
The risk profile breaks out five categories that most aggregate scores lump together. Each one is rated Low, Moderate, or High relative to the US national average.
Flood Risk
Based on FEMA flood zone designations. Zone X is minimal risk; Zones A and V are high-risk areas that typically require flood insurance.
Violent Crime
Estimated relative to the national average using available crime index data. Reflects reported incidents per capita for violent offenses.
Property Crime
Burglary, theft, and vehicle break-ins relative to the national average. Higher in dense urban areas; can vary block by block.
Air Quality
Based on EPA AQI data and proximity to industrial zones or high-traffic corridors. Good/Moderate/Poor aligns loosely with EPA classifications.
Price Volatility
How much home prices have fluctuated historically. High volatility means bigger swings — great if prices are rising, risky if they drop.
Data sources
Where the numbers come from
Every data point is pulled fresh when you request a report and cached for 90 days. We don't make numbers up — the AI synthesizes from real, publicly available sources.
US Census Bureau ACS
Income, demographics, housing tenure, education, employment
Walk Score
Walkability, transit, and bike scores
NCES (National Center for Education Statistics)
School counts, types, and Title I status
FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
Flood zone classifications
OSRM / OpenStreetMap
Commute time to nearest major employment center
AI synthesis (Groq / Anthropic)
Final verdict, vibe scores, pros/cons, and plain-English summaries — generated from the above raw data
Reports are refreshed every 90 days. Census data reflects ACS 5-year estimates (latest available).
Limitations & caveats
What we can't tell you
We work at the zip code level. A single zip can span very different blocks. Always walk the specific streets you're considering.
Crime data is imperfect. Reported crime ≠ actual crime. Some areas have high reporting rates; others don't. Use it as a signal, not a verdict on its own.
School ratings are proxy metrics. We use NCES Title I status and school count as a proxy — not test scores or subjective ratings. Visit GreatSchools.org for deeper school research.
AI can be wrong. Vibe scores and verdicts are generated by a language model. We've tuned it to be conservative and data-grounded, but it is not infallible. Use WYLT as a starting point, not a final word.
We are not real estate agents, lawyers, or financial advisors. Nothing on this site constitutes professional advice. Do your own due diligence.
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